Experimental model of swine pneumonic pasteurellosis using crude Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin and Pasteurella multocida given endobronchially.

This study was designed to develop and characterize a swine pneumonic pasteurellosis model by concurrent introduction of Pasteurella multocida type A and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae crude cytotoxin. After a series of preliminary experiments, a combination of 4 x 10(9) P. multocida and 4,000 toxic units of A. pleuropneumoniae crude cytotoxin was determined to produce optimal results. A total of 48 pigs were divided into four groups of 12 pigs each. The control group received buffered saline only. Four pigs from each group were randomly selected for necropsy 3, 7 and 14 days postinoculation (PI). Inoculation of pigs with P. multocida and A. pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin (group 1) resulted in moderate to severe pneumonia. Pasteurella multocida was isolated from pneumonic lesions, grossly normal lung, and bronchial lymph nodes of all group 1 pigs throughout the 14 day experimental period. Pathological changes typical of field cases of swine pneumonic pasteurellosis were produced. Pigs inoculated with P. multocida alone (group 2) had pneumonic lesions and P. multocida was reisolated from lungs at three days PI. Pasteurella multocida was not isolated from these pigs at 7 and 14 days PI, except for one pig in which an abscess developed in the thorax. Pulmonary lesions induced by A. pleuropneumoniae crude cytotoxin alone (group 3) were transient and resolved by seven days PI. Group 1 pigs had significantly greater lung lesion volumes than group 2 and 3 pigs at 3, 7 and 14 days PI. Statistical analysis indicated a significant interactive effect of P. multocida and A. pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin on the development of lung lesion volumes at 7 and 14 days PI (p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Spontaneous left medial liver lobe torsion and left lateral lobe infarction in a rottweiler

The abdominal ultrasonogram of a dog admitted for acute onset of collapse revealed an abnormally displaced left medial liver lobe with no blood flow. Surgical and histological findings confirmed the ultrasonographic diagnosis of left liver lobe torsion. Ultrasonographic findings were useful and probably sufficient for a correct diagnosis.     

The normal microflora of the female rabbit''s genital tract.

Microorganisms associated with the vagina, cervix and uterus of rabbits were isolated and identified. The predominant microorganisms isolated from the vaginas and cervices were coagulase-negative staphylococci, micrococci, and nonfermentative bacilli. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were isolated frequently, but in small numbers, from the uteri. The pH of the rabbit vagina was found to be near neutrality. Our data indicate that the genital flora of female rabbits is relatively simple, regarding the number and type of microorganisms.     

Effect of cortisol on luteinizing hormone release during sexual behavior in the boar.

The effect of inhibiting the rise in cortisol concentrations that occurs at copulation upon luteinizing hormone release was studied in seven adult boars. Plasma samples were collected for assay of luteinizing hormone, testosterone and cortisol on a control day and before, during and after exposure to an estrous sow. The area under the curve was used to evaluate hormone production and treatment effects were evaluated by a paired Student's t-test. The 11 beta-hydroxylase inhibitor, metyrapone, was used to suppress glucocorticoid hormone production. Cortisol concentrations increased significantly (p less than 0.05) after breeding compared to values on the control day while treatment with metyrapone prior to breeding prevented the cortisol increase (p greater than 0.05). Although luteinizing hormone production increased significantly after copulation in both breeding experiments, metyrapone pretreatment resulted in a reduction of luteinizing hormone secretion (p less than 0.05). Testosterone production was also reduced in boars pretreated with metyrapone. The results suggest that the increased levels of cortisol occurring at copulation may enhance luteinizing hormone release in boars.     

Active Participation Instead of Passive Behaviour Opens Up New Vistas in Education of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology

Teaching morphology, a fundamental part of medicine curricula is traditionally based on lectures and practical trainings. We introduced peer-assisted learning (PAL) and student expert teams to the courses to give the students the possibility to improve their free speech and self-confidence. We involved students in active preparation of online materials such as labelled e-slides and e-pics . We offered online digital microscopy (Zoomify^TM) and dissection (CyberPrep) allowing repeating the learned material and studying veterinary morphology outside the dissection theatre. Over 60% of first and third semester students profited from being a peer or being taught by a peer and 50% said the expert teams were an excellent method to learn the topographic anatomy. Almost all students applied Zoomify^TM and CyberPrep and 75% of them found the digital microscopy and dissection to be a helpful or very helpful learning tool. In face of reduced contact hours, these forms of education compensated in part the lost teaching time. We observed improvement of rhetoric and presentation skills and self-confidence. The approaches should therefore find their constant place in the veterinary medicine curricula.     

A computer program for calculation of doses and prices of injectable medications based on body weight or body surface area

A computer program (CalcAnesth) was developed with Visual Basic for the purpose of calculating the doses and prices of injectable medications on the basis of body weight or body surface area. The drug names, concentrations, and prices are loaded from a drug database. This database is a simple text file, that the user can easily create or modify. The animal names and body weights can be loaded from a similar database. After typing the dose and the units into the user interface, the results will be automatically displayed. The program is able to open and save anesthetic protocols, and export or print the results. This CalcAnesth program can be useful in clinical veterinary anesthesiology and research. The rationale for dosing on the basis of body surface area is also discussed in this article.     

藏山羊乳主要营养成分及乳酶、乳清蛋白的研究

本文研究了分布于西藏和四川地区的藏山羊乳蛋白、乳糖和乳脂含量,并对乳中4种酶活力及乳清蛋白的组成进行了研究。结果表明:藏山羊乳中3种营养成分存在一定的地区差异,脱脂乳中乳酸脱氢酶,碱性磷酸酶,γ-谷氨酰转肽酶、乳过氧化物酶活力分别为81.9±37.8、7.7±3.5、437.4±93.0、532.7±202.6单位。乳过氧化物酶在体外可被10~(-5)M的硫氰酸根或乳酸根活化。用琼脂糖凝胶电泳可将乳LDH分出LDH_1、LDH_2和LDH_3三带,各带所占百分比例分别为50.6±4.5、31.6±4.2和17.8±3.3,提示乳LDH不是来源于血液。用SDS—PAGE可将乳清蛋白分出5条区带。     

白色力克斯兔、哈尔滨白兔及杂交后代血液蛋白多态性研究Ⅱ.用血液蛋白多态性剖析亲本品种与杂种后代的遗传关系

根据所测定的白色力克斯兔(WR)、哈尔滨白兔(HW)及杂种一代(F_1,?WR×?HW)和回交一代[B_1,?WRX×?F_1,包括分离出的力克斯毛型(B_1R)和正常毛型(B_1N)]的5个血液蛋白多态系统——红细胞酯酶(Es—1、Es—2和Es—3)、前转铁蛋白(Prt)和后白蛋白(Po)的基因频率和基因型新率,比较了群体间的基因分布,估算了各群体内的平均杂合度和群体间的遗传距离,并运用类平均聚类法进行了聚类分析.结果表明,白色力克斯兔和哈尔滨白兔基因分布差异最大.亲缘关系最远;杂种一代和回交一代基因分布差异最小,亲缘关系最近;杂交一代和回交一代与白色力克斯兔亲缘关系较近,与哈尔滨白兔较远;回交一代中B_1N和B_1R间基因分布也存在一定差异.各群体平均杂合度大小为0.5223(HW)、0.4182[B_1,0.4846(B_1N)和0.3223(B_R)]、0.1105(F_1)和0.3946(WR).研究结果表明,利用蛋白多态性探讨家兔品种或品系间亲缘关系以及区分家兔品种或品系是可行的.此外,本文还结合各群体的变异性,对白色力克斯免和哈尔滨白兔的选育进行了探讨.